Get 20% off any STSI course with code ISISNOT20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down one of the simplest and most powerful systems thinking tools: the Is/Is Not List.

They explain why this move is not just about making a list, but about building a strong distinction—one that clarifies what something fundamentally is, what it is not, and where the boundary really belongs. From leadership and management to safety, AI, systems thinking, and even the classic “is a hot dog a sandwich?” debate, they show how unclear distinctions create confusion, misalignment, and downstream problems.

The conversation also explores the difference between an Is/Is Not List and a Zoom In, how to test a distinction using the “always/never” rule, and why shared definitions are essential for teams, organizations, and everyday life.

If you want to think more clearly, communicate more precisely, and prevent costly misunderstandings before they happen, this episode gives you a practical tool for doing exactly that.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code LIST20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore one of the simplest but most powerful thinking tools we use every day: lists.

They break down why lists are more than just a way to remember tasks—they are a systems thinking tool that helps us distinguish what matters, break overwhelming wholes into manageable parts, and create perspective on what actually needs to get done. From moving, parenting, schoolwork, and sleepless nights to shared family lists and the dopamine hit of checking things off, they show how lists help turn mental chaos into structure.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to keep everything in your head, this episode explains why getting it out of your mind and into a list can reduce stress, create clarity, and help you take action.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code FEEDBACK20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore what happens when someone gives you difficult feedback—and why your first reaction may not be the most useful one.

Starting with a question about being perceived as “argumentative,” they unpack the difference between reacting and understanding, how our internal voice can interfere with genuine listening, and why self-awareness is one of the most powerful skills we can develop. The conversation dives into metacognition, emotional reactions, feedback, defensive thinking, and the importance of separating reality from the stories we tell ourselves about it.

They also explore how many of our thoughts, judgments, and habits originate from voices we've adopted over time, and why curiosity—not self-criticism—is the key to understanding ourselves more clearly.

If you want to communicate better, receive feedback more effectively, and develop greater agency over your thoughts, feelings, and actions, this episode offers a powerful systems thinking framework for doing exactly that.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code TEAM20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University answer a common leadership question: why do talented people often struggle to work together as a team?

They explore the difference between a group and a true team, showing how friction, duplicate effort, competing priorities, and communication breakdowns often stem from one root cause: misaligned mental models. Using systems thinking and DSRP, they break down how people can use the same words, work on the same problem, and still be operating from completely different understandings of reality.

The conversation explores shared mental models, perspective taking, priorities, communication, and why the strongest teams are not built through harder work, but through better understanding. If you lead a team, work on a team, or want to improve collaboration in any area of life, this episode offers a powerful systems thinking framework for getting everyone moving in the same direction.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code CULTURE20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore a powerful idea: culture may be the single greatest advantage an organization can create—and most leaders fundamentally misunderstand how it works.

Starting with an unexpected question about marketing, they unpack why changing minds—not promoting products—is the real work behind both marketing and leadership. They explore how organizational culture emerges whether you shape it or not, why shared mental models matter more than policies or processes, and how leaders can intentionally build cultures that create alignment, adaptability, and better decision-making.

They also dive into vision, mission, incentives, culture campaigns, and why organizations with the same people and same resources can produce radically different outcomes simply because of culture.

If you’ve ever wondered why some organizations thrive while others struggle despite having similar resources, this episode offers a systems thinking lens for understanding what’s really happening.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code YODA20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore the difference between “trying” and “doing”—and why that distinction matters more than most people think.

They unpack how words like “trying” or “I didn’t mean to” can function as subtle ways of avoiding reality, ownership, and feedback. Through examples from parenting, communication, goals, and relationships, they show how systems thinking helps us see the mental models underneath our language and behavior.

The conversation also dives into listening, integrity, and the difference between reacting automatically and choosing your actions with awareness. If you want better communication, stronger ownership, and more alignment between what you say and what you do, this episode gives you a sharper way to think about it.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code SYSTHINK20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University tackle three common misconceptions that stop people from becoming systems thinkers.

They explore the difference between unconsciously using DSRP patterns and purposefully applying them with awareness, why more information does not automatically lead to better understanding, and how hidden “externalities” distort the way we make decisions. Through examples ranging from neuromarketing and AI to education, relationships, and organizational leadership, they show how people often miss the underlying structure and patterns driving outcomes.

The conversation also dives into the Love Reality Loop, the limits of the “5 Ws,” and why failing to think structurally creates enormous hidden costs in time, energy, relationships, and decision-making.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by information, trapped in repeating patterns, or skeptical about whether systems thinking is worth the effort, this episode explains why learning to see structure may be one of the highest-leverage skills you can develop.

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore one of the most difficult systems thinking challenges in relationships: understanding responsibility for our emotions.

They unpack the dynamic between action and reaction, why emotional regulation creates agency and empowerment, and how faulty mental models can lead people to either take responsibility for everyone else’s feelings—or none of their own. Through ideas like “buttons,” emotional wounds, constructive vs. destructive conflict, and the Love Reality Loop, they show how awareness, communication, and metacognition transform the way we navigate relationships.

They also explore why feedback from reality matters more than protecting your ego, how hubris blocks growth, and why the healthiest relationships are built on constructive conflict, honesty, and openness to changing your mental models.

If you’ve ever struggled with conflict, emotional triggers, or feeling misunderstood in relationships, this episode offers a systems-level framework for understanding yourself—and others—more clearly.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code CRISIS20 — become a systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University explore how to think through moments of crisis using systems thinking.

They break down a critical first step—questioning whether something is truly a crisis or a product of inflated thinking—and show how unchecked mental models and worst-case assumptions can create unnecessary stress. Using the DSRP framework, they walk through how to set boundaries, break a crisis into parts, examine relationships, and take multiple perspectives to regain clarity and control.

They also explore why slowing down is essential in complex and turbulent situations, how misjudging your level of agency can make things worse, and why aligning with reality—rather than reacting to imagined outcomes—is the key to navigating difficult moments effectively.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a situation spiraling out of control, this episode gives you a practical, systems-level way to see it clearly and take action.

Get 20% off any STSI course with code STARTNOW20 — become a motivated systems thinker today!

In this episode, Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University break down a powerful systems thinking model for understanding human behavior: the dynamic relationship between cognition (thinking), emotion (feeling), motivation (conation), and embodiment.

They explore how these elements constantly interact in feedback loops—how thoughts shape emotions, how motivations frame what we see, and how emotional or motivational “debt” can quietly constrain our ability to think clearly. They also dive into one of the most overlooked drivers of behavior: motivation, and how what you’re truly motivated by (not what you say you are) shapes your decisions, actions, and outcomes.

From intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation to self-awareness and behavioral alignment, this episode offers a practical way to analyze why you do what you do—and how to better align your thinking, feeling, and actions with the life you actually want.

If you’ve ever wondered why your behavior doesn’t match your intentions, this episode gives you the systems-level lens to understand—and change it.